ANGLOROMANI(ENGLISH ROMANI, ROMANI ENGLISH, ROMANICHAL, POGADI CHIB, POSH 'N' POSH)
[RME]
90,000 in Britain (1990 I. Hancock); 75,000 in USA; 5,000 in Australia; 170,000
to 270,000 or more in all countries. England, Wales, Scotland. Also in South
Africa. Indo-European, Germanic,
West, North Sea, English. Angloromani not inherently intelligible with Welsh
Romani, Traveller Swedish, Traveller Norwegian, or Traveller Danish. The
grammar is basically English with heavy Romani lexical borrowing. Many
dialects. It has been spoken in the United Kingdom for 500 years. "The
Romanichal population must be considered as being more actively determined to
retain the ethnic language than some other British minorities." (I. Hancock).
Selections 1979. Work in progress.

BRITISH SIGN LANGUAGE(BSL)
[BHO]
40,000 mother tongue users (1984 Deuchar); out of 909,000 deaf, of which the
majority probably have some degree of sign language competence (1977 Deuchar).
United Kingdom including Northern Ireland, Scotland. Deaf sign language.
Unintelligible with American Sign Language. There is increasing desire to train
deaf children in BSL. Good regional and national organizations for the deaf.
The deaf community is cohesive, so communication is good despite regional
differences. However, there are many reports of different unintelligible sign
languages approximately every 50 miles. TV use of BSL is elevating its status,
promoting acceptance, decreasing regional varieties. Signed interpretation is
required in court, and provided in some other situations. Sign language
instruction for parents of deaf children. Many sign language classes for
hearing people. There is an organization for sign language teachers. There is a
committee on national sign language. Sign language was used before 1644. Deaf
schools were established in the late 18th century. British Signed English is
distinct from American Signed English. Dictionary. Grammar. Films and video.
Work in progress.

CORNISH
[CRN]
150 fluent speakers (1990 Wall Street Journal). A few thousand have studied it.
Southwest England (Cornwall). Indo-European, Celtic, Insular,
Brythonic. It became extinct as a first language in 1777. It is now being
revived. Church services are still held in Cornish. There are evening classes,
correspondence courses, summer camps, children's play groups. It is taught in
some schools. Two spelling systems are in use. There is a Cornish Language
Board. All speakers are fluent in English. Bible portions 1936. Second language
only. No mother tongue speakers.

GAELIC, SCOTS(GAELIC)
[GLS]
88,892 including 477 monolinguals, 88,415 bilinguals in Scotland (1971 census);
5,000 in Canada (1976 Stephens); 94,000 in all countries. North and central
counties of Ross, Islands of Hebrides and Skye. Also in Nova Scotia and Cape
Breton, Prince Edward Island, Canada; and New South Wales, Australia. Indo-European, Celtic, Insular,
Goidelic. Dialect: EAST SUTHERLANDSHIRE. In some communities it is primarily
used in the home, in church, and for social purposes. Two newspapers carry news
in Gaelic. Books and journals are produced on various topics. In bilingual
areas Gaelic is usually the first language of instruction for most primary
subjects. In the 1971 census 50% of all speakers could read Gaelic. Church
Gaelic is based on the Perthshire dialect of 200 years ago, and is at a
distance from spoken dialects. East Sutherlandshire dialect is so different
from other spoken dialects as to be a barrier to communication. Regular radio
broadcasts in New South Wales and Victoria, Australia. Typology: VSO. Braille
code available. Bible 1801-1991. NT 1767-1875. Bible portions 1684-1991.

MANX
[MJD]
Isle of Man, part of the British Isles, a Crown Dependency, with its own
Parliament, laws, currency, and taxation. The United Kingdom represents the
Isle of Man at the United Nations. Indo-European, Celtic, Insular,
Goidelic. Extinct during this century as a first language. There are efforts to
revive it. Second language for 200 to 300 who have mainly learned it as adults.
Used for some public functions. Bible 1773. NT 1767-1775. Bible portions
1748-1767.

TRAVELLER SCOTTISH(SCOTTISH CANT, SCOTTISH TRAVELLER CANT)
[TRL]
4,000 in Scotland; 4,000 in USA (1990 I. Hancock). Also in Australia.
Unclassified. A blend language of High Romani and Elizabethan Cant. The
earliest texts go back to the sixteenth century. Not Gypsies. Nomadic in
Scotland. In USA they travel but have a fixed base. Survey needed.